Thompson Local News

MKO Food Bank looking into more funding streams as food package program intake triples due to Salvation Army shut down

The MKO Food Bank has been assisting urban Indigenous residents in Thompson since it opened last fall, but getting funding to provide a full food hamper has been a work in progress.

 

Urban Initiatives manager Shyanna Lynxleg, who oversees the food bank, says current services include a bi-weekly food package consisting of non-perishable food items, the baby basket program, as well as giving away refurbished laptops to families with teenagers in need of one.

 

Lynxleg says since the Salvation Army closed its food bank in June, the number of clients for the food package program tripled.

 

“When we first opened, we had a bi-weekly number of 214 individuals and families that we serviced. Every two weeks, we would give a food package to 214. Now ever since the Salvation Army has closed its doors, we now have 673 every two weeks that we are servicing. It has been difficult to try to get as much food to people as possible within Thompson.”  

 

The MKO Food Bank is currently being funded through Indigenous Services Canada and receives donations from local grocers either monthly or quarterly, but it’s not enough to include perishable foods like produce, bread, and eggs into their packages.

 

Lynxleg says MKO is looking at ways to provide full hampers to its clients, and adds the food bank is always looking for people interested in helping out any way they can.

 

Tune in to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon for more information.

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